Interview with Albert Edward Gregory

British NCO served as air gunner served with 219 Sqdn, Nos 13 and 11 Groups, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 4/1940-4/1941 including Battle of Britain, 7/1940-10/1940; NCO and officer served as wireless operator/air gunner with 23 and 605 Sqdns, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 12/1941-3/1943; officer served with 275 and 278 Sqdns, Air-Sea Rescue Services, RAF in GB, 3/1943-5/1945; officer served as loadmaster with 52 and 110 Sqdns, RAF in Federation of Malaya, 1948-1952

REEL 1 Background in Derby, GB, 1917-1939: family; education; employment; reasons for joining Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 1939. Aspects of training as air gunner with 141 Sqdn, No 13 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 12/1939-4/1940: posting to squadron at RAF Grangemouth, 12/1940; completing air gunner training at RAF Aldergrove; question of height restrictions in Boulton Paul Defiant turret. Recollections of operations as NCO air gunner with 219 Sqdn, Nos 13 and 11 Groups, Fighter Command in GB, 4/1940-4/1941 including Battle of Britain, 7/1940-10/1940: posting to squadron at RAF Catterick, 4/1940; patrols of east coast from West Hartlepool; hours flown in Bristol Blenheim during Battle of Britain, 7/1940-10/1940; tactics for avoiding contact with German Air Force fighter aircraft; promotion of leading aircraftmen to rank of sergeant, 5/1940; move to Redhill and conversion to Bristol Beaufighter, 11/1940; problems with jamming cannons; character of night operations in London area; training as wireless operator/air gunner; shooting down of German Air Force Heinkel 111 use AI (Airborne Interception) equipment, 3/1940. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as NCO and officer with 23 and 605 Sqdns, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 12/1941-3/1943: posting to 23 Sqdn at HMS Peregrine, Royal Naval Air Station Ford, 7/12/1941; night intruder operations in Douglas Boston Mk III; transmitting rules; threats encountered over Northern France; obtaining commission and attending Gunnery Leaders Course at Central Gunnery School, RAF at RAF Sutton Bridge, 7/1942-8/1942; posting to 605 Sqdn, RAF at HMS Peregrine, Royal Naval Air Station Ford, 9/1942-3/1943. Aspects of period as officer with 275 and 278 Sqdns, Air-Sea Rescue Services, RAF in GB, 3/1943-5/1945: air-sea rescue work with 275 Sqdn, RAF from RAF Valley from 2/1943; move to 278 Sqdn, RAF in Suffolk; role attached to United States Army Air Force; German V1 Flying Bomb attacks, 1944-1945; second hand story of Supermarine Walrus air-sea rescue incident; attitude to having served with Royal Air Force during Second World War. Aspects of period as loadmaster with 52 and 110 Sqdns, RAF in Federation of Malaya, 1948-1952: recall to Royal Air Force service due to aircrew shortages, 1947; duties as loadmaster. REEL 3 Continues: attitude to serving in Federation of Malaya; trips to Saigon, French Indochina and Hong Kong; arrangements for family including employment of Malay servant; end of Royal Air Force service, 5/1955. Reflections on service with Royal Air Force in Second World War: handling of AI (Airborne Interception) radar equipment; story of his Bristol Blenheim aircraft being shot up by Polish manned fighter squadron during Battle of Britain.